Two St John's organ students appointed to cathedral positions

We're delighted to hear that two St John's Organ Students have been appointed to cathedral positions within days of each other: St John's Assistant Organist Joseph Wicks as Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, and former Organ Student Paul Provost as Rector Chori of Southwell Minster, the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire.

Joseph - who was Organ Student here from 2013-16 and is currently Assistant Organist at the College - completed his degree in Music as well as his FRCO last year, for which he was awarded the prestigious Limpus Prize. As well as being the Musical Director of 'The Gentlemen of St John's', he is also committed to singing: Joseph is currently a member of The Gesualdo Six, a group specialising in Renaissance polyphony which is becoming well established across the country. 

Although he will miss St John's, he is thrilled by his appointment: "I could not be more excited to move to Cornwall and to work with Christopher Gray, whose cathedral choir is undoubtedly one of the best in the country. I know I will enjoy my last months here in Cambridge, and have learnt so much during my four years here. Andrew Nethsingha has been the most wonderful mentor, colleague and friend, and I have learnt a huge amount from him.

"Whilst it will be sad to leave Cambridge, there is plenty more still left of this academic year to look forward to, and I know that I will treasure my experiences here and continue to learn within this most amazing of choral traditions."

Truro Cathedral is an important place for several of the musicians here at St John's: our Director of Music, Andrew Nethsingha, was Director at Truro from 1994 to 2002 (he was then the youngest cathedral director in the country) and two Gentlemen of the Choir came to the St John's this year after having undertaken Truro's prestigious Choral Scholar programme.

Paul Provost, who is currently the Sub Organist at Guildford Cathedral, will be moving to Southwell Minster to take the position of 'Rector Chori' (the director's title) following on from Paul Hale, who has retired after serving 27 years in the role. Paul (Provost) was Organ Student at St John's from 2004-2007, and in addition to his duties at Guildford he is in demand as a recitalist, accompanist and choral director.

Paul will be moving with his wife Ruth and his six-month-old daughter, and is very excited to begin after Easter: “We are very much looking forward to the move to Southwell, a place for which we have great affection. I am in particular excited by the musical opportunities and possibilities for development, encouraged by the generosity and friendliness of all I have met so far.” *

As with Truro, members of the Choir of St John's have come here from Southwell: in recent times two Gentleman of the Choir - one of them current - were once choristers at the Minster.

*Extract from Southwell Minster's website.